fine
fine — adjective
1. good enough for a particular purpose or situation; also used to say that a perso
good enough for a particular purpose or situation; also used to say that a person is in good health and not feeling ill.
The hotel room was small but fine for one night.
fine + for + purpose
Ayana asked if her essay was fine, and the teacher said yes.
"Are you feeling okay?" "I'm fine, just a little tired."
"I'm fine" as polite reply to health inquiry
Otis checked the cake and said it looked fine to serve.
The road was rough, but the car's tyres were fine.
- fine for
- fine with
- look fine
- feel fine
- be fine
- okay
more casual, very common in spoken English
- acceptable
slightly more formal; focuses on meeting a standard
- satisfactory
formal; used in evaluations and reports
- adequate
suggests the bare minimum, sometimes implying it is not generous
- bad
the opposite of being good enough
- unsatisfactory
formal antonym for when something does not meet requirements
Grammar Patterns
be + fine
be + fine + for + noun phrase
be + fine + infinitive
Usage Note
Predicative only — use this sense after linking verbs (be, feel, look, seem), not before a noun. For the attributive use before nouns ("a fine meal"), see sense 2 (EXCELLENT).
2. of very high quality; much better than most other things of the same type.
of very high quality; much better than most other things of the same type.
The restaurant is known for its fine wine selection.
fine + [product] — high quality
Meera gave a fine performance in the school play.
That museum has one of the finest art collections in Europe.
finest + plural noun — superlative for 'best of its kind'
Nikos received a fine education at the university in Athens.
- fine wine
- fine art
- fine dining
- fine quality
- fine example
- the finest
- excellent
stronger and more direct than 'fine'; common in praise
- superb
stronger and less common; for truly outstanding quality
- outstanding
suggests the best among a group
- first-rate
informal, emphasizes top-level quality
Grammar Patterns
fine + noun
Usage Note
The superlative form "finest" is very common for describing the best examples of wines, art, food, or craftsmanship.
Common Mistakes
3. formed of very thin strands, tiny particles, or narrow threads; not thick or coa
formed of very thin strands, tiny particles, or narrow threads; not thick or coarse in texture.
Sari used a pen with a fine tip to draw the details.
fine + [item with thin/narrow characteristic]
The baker added fine sugar instead of coarse grains.
Ava wore a sweater made of fine wool that felt soft against her skin.
The sand on that beach is so fine it feels like powder when you touch it.
Joon cut the carrots into fine pieces for the soup.
fine + plural noun — small pieces
- fine hair
- fine thread
- fine sand
- fine powder
- fine detail
- fine point
Grammar Patterns
fine + noun (material, texture)
Usage Note
Often contrasts with 'coarse' or 'thick'. Common in cooking (fine salt, fine herbs), textiles (fine silk, fine thread), and writing instruments (fine nib, fine point).
Common Mistakes
4. involving small but important differences that need careful judgment; very preci
involving small but important differences that need careful judgment; very precise and requiring close attention.
There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance.
a fine line between X and Y
The lawyer explained a fine point of the contract that most people miss.
Eitan has a fine eye for detail in his photography work.
a fine eye for + [skill] — keen perception
The judge made a fine distinction between two similar legal cases.
- a fine line
- fine point
- fine distinction
- fine detail
- fine print
- finer points
Grammar Patterns
fine + noun (abstract concept)
fine + line + between
Usage Note
Common in fixed phrases like 'a fine line' (a small difference that can be easily crossed) and 'the finer points' (the more detailed or complicated aspects). Frequently used in law, philosophy, and criticism.
5. bright with sunshine and without rain; describing weather that is pleasant and c
bright with sunshine and without rain; describing weather that is pleasant and clear.
We had fine weather for our picnic at the park.
fine weather / fine day
Lucía hoped for a fine day for her outdoor wedding.
Tomorrow will be fine with blue skies and no clouds.
The forecast said it would be fine all weekend.
'it will be fine' — weather prediction
- fine weather
- fine day
- fine morning
- fine afternoon
- fine and sunny
Grammar Patterns
it + be + fine
a + fine + day/morning/afternoon
Usage Note
Primarily British English. In American English, 'nice' or 'clear' is more common for describing good weather. Not used with nouns like 'rain' or 'storm' (you cannot say 'fine rain' in this sense).
Common Mistakes
6. used to show the opposite of what you really mean, especially when a situation i
used to show the opposite of what you really mean, especially when a situation is bad, annoying, or inconvenient.
That's a fine mess you've got us into with your mistake!
sarcastic pattern: 'a fine + [usually bad noun]'
A fine time to tell me — the train has already left.
You're a fine one to talk about being late!
Bilal called this a fine situation, but his angry face said otherwise.
- a fine mess
- a fine state of affairs
- a fine one to talk
- a fine time
- a fine friend
Grammar Patterns
a + fine + noun (negative context)
Usage Note
Always ironic or sarcastic — the speaker means the opposite of what the words say. Tone of voice is critical. The pattern 'a fine + [noun]' in a negative context signals this use. Not used in writing without clear ironic framing.
Common Mistakes
7. elegant in appearance, style, or character; showing good taste and high social r
elegant in appearance, style, or character; showing good taste and high social refinement.
The mansion was decorated with fine furniture and silk curtains.
fine + [elegant possessions]
Christopher wore a fine suit to the awards ceremony.
The museum displayed a collection of fine china from the 18th century.
Nala has fine manners and always speaks politely to everyone.
fine manners / fine character — refined personal qualities
- fine china
- fine silk
- fine clothes
- fine manners
- fine features
- fine character
- elegant
direct synonym; more common in modern English
- refined
emphasizes sophistication through education or taste
- aristocratic
narrower — suggests the elegance of the upper classes specifically
Grammar Patterns
fine + noun (appearance or manner)
Usage Note
Attributive only in this sense — use it before a noun ("fine silk," "fine manners"). Do not use predicatively (do not say "Her manners are fine" to mean elegant — that would be sense 1, GOOD ENOUGH).
Common Mistakes
Used to express that someone would like something to happen but thinks it is unlikely.
"I wish I could take a vacation." "Chance would be a fine thing!"
Mia said she wanted a new car, but chance would be a fine thing.
The more complex or detailed parts of a subject or activity.
Sara spent months learning the finer points of chess strategy.
Can you explain the finer points of this contract to me?
in fine/good fettle
idiomIn a healthy or good condition.
After a week of rest, the athlete was in fine fettle.
The old car is still in good fettle after twenty years.
Used to emphasize a direct and honest statement, especially a criticism.
Not to put too fine a point on it, your report was full of errors.
Not to put too fine a point on it, I think we need a new manager.
To be in a situation where you must be very careful to avoid problems or mistakes.
As a comedian, Diego walks a fine line between humor and offense.
The politician treads a thin line between honesty and diplomacy.
fine — adverb
1. in a way that is good enough or satisfactory; without problems or difficulty.
in a way that is good enough or satisfactory; without problems or difficulty.
Everything is going fine with the project so far.
going fine / working fine — common collocations
The computer was old but still ran fine.
Tuan got along fine with his new classmates from the first day.
"Don't worry about dinner — I'll manage fine on my own."
- work fine
- run fine
- go fine
- do fine
- manage fine
- get along fine
- well
more formal and standard; can be used in any register
- satisfactorily
formal; common in reports and evaluations
- okay
more casual, very common in spoken English
- badly
the opposite in terms of performance
Grammar Patterns
verb + fine
be + doing + fine
Usage Note
Place 'fine' directly after the verb or after the object if there is one ('I manage fine' versus 'I do fine'). In formal writing, replace with 'well' or 'satisfactorily.' Cannot be graded (*'very fin*ely' as an adverb — use 'very well' instead).
Common Mistakes
fine — noun
1. a sum of money that a person or organization is ordered to pay as punishment for
a sum of money that a person or organization is ordered to pay as punishment for breaking a law, rule, or regulation.
The driver had to pay a fine for parking in a no-parking zone.
pay a fine for [offence]
The company received a heavy fine for polluting the river.
heavy fine / large fine — adjective + fine
Élise paid her library fine and checked out three new books.
If you return the books late, there is a fine of two dollars per day.
a fine of [amount]
- pay a fine
- impose a fine
- heavy fine
- parking fine
- library fine
- fine of
- face a fine
Grammar Patterns
pay + a + fine
a + fine + of + amount
fine + for + offence
Usage Note
Commonly occurs with verbs 'pay,' 'impose,' 'face,' and 'receive.' The amount can be specified with 'of' (a fine of $500) or placed before the noun (a $500 fine). Not used for non-monetary penalties (prison, community service).
Common Mistakes
fine — verb
1. to order someone to pay a specific sum of money as punishment for breaking a law
to order someone to pay a specific sum of money as punishment for breaking a law or rule.
The police fined him $200 for driving without a licence.
fine + [person] + [amount] + for [offence]
The library fines people who keep books past the due date.
Eri was fined for dropping rubbish on the street.
passive: was fined for [offence]
Companies that break safety rules can be fined thousands of dollars.
- fine for
- fine someone
- be fined
- fine heavily
Grammar Patterns
fine + person + amount + for + offence
be + fined + amount + for + offence
Usage Note
Common in passive constructions because the focus is often on the person being fined rather than the authority imposing the fine. The amount is optional — you can say 'She was fined for speeding' without specifying the amount.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- finelyadverbB1
- finenessnounB2
- fine-tuneverbC1
- refineverbB2
- refinementnounC1
- finessenounC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
These five words all describe something that meets a basic standard, but they differ in tone and nuance. 'Fine' is the most common in everyday speech — it suggests that something is good enough without being special ('The food was fine, nothing amazing'). 'Okay' is even more casual and is the default reply when asked how you are ('I'm okay'). 'Satisfactory' is more formal and precise, commonly used in reports, evaluations, and customer feedback — it means the thing meets requirements exactly. 'Acceptable' focuses on permission or social norms rather than personal judgment: 'Is this behaviour acceptable?' suggests a rule or standard. 'Adequate' often implies the bare minimum, sometimes with a hint of disappointment: 'The heating was adequate but we still felt cold.' For health, only 'fine' and 'okay' are natural ('I'm fine' / 'I'm okay'); the others sound clinical or odd in that context. In formal writing, use 'satisfactory' or 'acceptable' where you would say 'fine' in conversation.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'fine' entered English from two distinct historical paths. The adjective and adverb forms came through Old French 'fin' (meaning perfect, of high quality), which itself came from Latin 'finis' (end, limit, boundary) — the idea being that something 'finished' or 'brought to an end' was perfect or complete. The noun sense ('monetary penalty') came from a different Old French source: 'fin' or 'amende fine' meaning a final settlement or payment that ends a dispute. By the 13th century, both strands were established in English, and over time the adjective broadened from 'perfect' to 'good enough' (sense 1) while also developing specialised meanings for weather, texture, and subtle distinctions.